The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-17
i LEGISLATIVE MEASURES.
"A Bill Referring to the Publication Of
Common School Textbooks.
Figures Their Statistician Gives Relating
to Wages, Cost Of Living and Profits.
SOME IMPORTANT BILLS.

School Interests Represented in Measures
for State Textbooks and County Boards.
What the committee on elections Of e;sher
house will do this morning, if anything. may
change the past few days quietness into sessions
OF exciting interest, but the probabilities war
rant the inference that the sensational features
are at an end until the voting for United States
Senator begins large number OF the Repre-
Bentatives and Senators spent their Sunday at
home but enough were here yesterday to dis
cuss prospective legislation which appeared to
be the CHER topic outside the considering of
means that would help them to make Sunday
bround the hotels less monotonous 1t is asserted
by some that Indiana mas q good
General Assembly, much better than
the average for years, and one
capable of doing important work when relieved
Of political matters So far there has been, in
the introduction of bills. only the skimming of
what the laws of the State need and the indica-
tions are that the committees will have no easy
nuty before them in sitting the grains from the
chat. school for feeble minded chill
ared. amendments to the laws governing the be-
nevolent institutions, changes bearing on the ed
sectional system of the State, labor bills, those
affecting corporations and the like will require
considerable on the calendars
The bill of Senator Mcdonald, creating
school for feebleminded. means a purchase of
the Morrison property at Knightstown while one
of the same character, introduced by Representa-
tive lbach seeks to have the school established at
Huntington. The latter measure differs in some
essentials from that pending In the Senate, mas
much as it imposes more powers on the matron,
rather than giving one Of the three trusteeships
TO woman. 1t also provides for the entire sepa-
ration from the management of the Indiana
Soldiers Orphans Home 1t is Mr.. Ibach's idea
that the interest of the feeble-minded children
of whom there are in the State 1000, including
spileptics and paralytics. be better served
II the two institutions are wholly distinct.
He also proposes to have two depart
ments in the school, custodian and industrial,
while the superintendent, matron and steward
are required to be experts in the management
and care of feeble minded The trustees are to
be three and non partisan.
In educational matters. Representative Pleas
Antss bill providing for a State series of
what this class Of legislation seeks to ac-
complsh. The series is to include one spell
Ing book. five readers. two arithmetics. two
biographies. one English grammar one physi-
and graded series Of writing books
The State Board Of Education is to
employ welqualfed persons to COM
pile the books, but the copyright, is to
be surrendered to the State. All mechanical
work connected herewith is to done under the
supervision of the Commissioners Of Public
Printing, who will be required to advertise for
proposals for the printing and binding. The
and best bidder, who, on being awarded the
work. must give a bond of $50. 900 for IT'S fulfill
nent These books, the bill says, shall, on the
order of the State Board of Education, be used
the distribution of the books, the county super
intendents are to make acquisitions
on the Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton for the books needed in the
schools of their respective counties, on informa-
ton furnished by the township trustee. All
regulations are to be accompanied by the cash
price for the books that has been determined on
by the State Board of Education, and the County
Commissioners are TO be empowered to provide
q revolying fund to be used by the county su
perintendents in purchasing these books. Az
appropriation of 500, 600 is to be made for the
purpose of compiling or causing TO be compiled
the series mentioned, and for carrying out the
other provisions of the bill The sum of $50, 00(
is 10 be set apart revolving fund. The
books .are to be furnished to children at cost
Representative Buskirk introduced bill es
tabshing county boards OF education. to be
composed of county superintendent, trustees Of
school townships and school trustees of each in
corporated town and city. Each county board
Is to meet on the first Monday in May, each year
What branches are to be taught and supple!
needed for each succeeding five years in tn,
public schools to be determined by thu
board but none of the provisions of tn,
bill are To apply to cities Of $4,000 popu
lation or more. The books and supplies are to b.
furnished under contract, awarded after the Csua
form of advertising for bids, has been carriet
out. The remaining sections provide for tn
distribution of books through the county super
intendents. No member Of any county boar'
shall act as agent for any person corporation
directly or indirectly interested in the introduc
ton Of any books or supplies into any Of tn
public schools Of the State. The same Repre-
ssnts.ire has also bill in the committee OF
corpoi IONS. providing that judgments aeains
corporations can be taken without relief from
Valuation or appraisement laws.